How to Create a Cozy Atmosphere in Rental Housing Without Spending Money: A California Couple's Experience

Leslie Stevens and her fiancé John Olman live in a rented apartment. They consider it their home and create beauty here and now, without waiting to buy something of their own and renovate. How to love your home no matter what it is? Here are the secrets of Leslie and John.

Don't use meaningless decoration

Leslie and John are convinced that clutter and chaos in the house create meaningless things. For example, a vase accidentally received from their aunt, or an old blanket that's too sad to throw away. Such junk causes a desire to forever tidy up. The couple has a rule: every item in the house must have meaning. For example, photographs in the hallway are work of John's father, and the knitted blanket was brought by Leslie's mother from her homeland, Guatemala.

Give away unnecessary items

The couple follows a rule: help every item find its owner. Even the most terrible vase for you might be loved by someone else. Leslie always gives away items she doesn't use free of charge.

Once I gave away four boxes of my clothes to friends, and a few days later completely forgot what was inside.

Place favorite items in the center of composition

Leslie loves music, so she arranges her interior around four large speakers. Of course, one could replace the stereo system with something more compact, but Leslie didn't do that because the living room with large monitors is her style. The girl always moves with her stereo system, and moving here was no exception.

My speakers are a feeling of home for me. I light a candle and turn on music at the very moment I open the front door.

Excessive storage spaces hinder

The couple came to this conclusion quite recently. When Leslie and John moved into a new apartment, they discovered that the bathroom had only one shelf for storage. But over time, Leslie realized this only helps them to be more selective in their purchases. In addition, when there are no extra bottles around, the bathroom looks neater.

When there are no unnecessary odds in the bathroom, cleaning goes faster and lasts longer.

Let your imagination run free

When Leslie and John first moved in, they spent money on rent and shipping their belongings, and for some time were completely broke. There was no sofa in the kitchen. Friends of the couple wanted to discard wooden boxes that were not needed for setting up a children's room, but Leslie and John took them and made a kitchen bench. It turned out convenient and tasteful.

Photo source: www.heykellyj.com